Bird Watching - O's Take Care Of Yankees, Adam Jones' Hot Start, And Shipping Up To Fenway
Two weeks into the season and the O’s find themselves a game back of the Red Sox for first place. They travel to Boston to play a four game series starting today, but more on that later. After an opening series in which they took two of three from the Rays, the O’s headed home for their home opener. It wasn’t the best…
Blue Jays Series
The O’s opening series was…..not pretty. Games one and three weren’t very good for the O’s, giving up 22 runs in the two losses. Bud Norris and the pen got knocked around pretty good in game one, and Chris Tillman just didn’t have his stuff in game three. Game two was a god damn beaut, pitched by…get ready for it…. UBALDO JIMENEZ!!!! Jimenez posted his best start in an O’s uni, eight Ks, one walk, and ONE hit over seven innings. This is what we expected when they signed him to that big deal last year. Better late than never, right? I know it was only one start but if Jimenez can keep this up and the rest of the O’s pitching staff resembles what they did next year, this rotation can be one of the best in the A.L. Loved what I saw from him, just gotta hope the rest of the guys find their groove, pitching is contagious. KEEP IT GOING UBALDO.
Yankees Series
Is it just me, or is it getting boring winning all these series from the Yankees? Seriously, beating the Yankees almost isn’t fun anymore (nahhhh it’s fun.) I love walking out of Camden Yards and seeing all the fake Yankee fans with the last names on the back of their jerseys, calling themselves diehard fans. Bunch of losers is what they really are.
The Yankees stole game one from the Birds. Stephen fucking Drew had a pinch-hit grand slam off Tommy Hunter to pretty much win it. Drew may be the worst player in the league, but hey, blind squirrel, etc etc.
Game two belonged to Miguel Gonzalez. The 4-3 win was helped by Miggy’s career high 10 Ks, one walk, four hits, and one run. Completely dominated the game. O’s got just enough off of C.C., who isn’t the same guy who used to own the Birds. No one is afraid of him anymore. When C.C. was the opposing pitcher, you were just hoping to win the game the next day, not anymore. He’s fat, old, can’t field, and doesn’t throw as hard as he used to. 0 intimidation factor. I could probably get a base knock off of him.
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Game three was a fantastic back and forth battle. A-Rod even got into the action, hitting a ball to fucking Howard County. But in the end, the good guys pulled it out. Delmon Young had a big hit, Chris Davis struck out three times (nine times in the series), but delivered some huge knocks in the game, BFFs Johnathan Schoop and Manny Machado both visited #DongCity, and Britton came in to get the save.
The bullpen has been shaky this season, including this series. Tommy Hunter may be the new mop up guy, only coming in with a big lead, or down a lot. Guy has had a shaky start, gave up a few runs this series, hate to see that, hopefully he gets it figured out. Can’t say it didn’t hurt to see Andrew Miller on the other side, esp while our bullpen is struggling….ugh.
O’s were a hard ground ball away from sweeping, oh well, do what you have to do to win the series, and they did just that.
Adam Jones
Show me a baseball player on this earth who has had a better week than Mr. Jones. He is on fire. Check out the numbers….
Not too shabby. Jones has put the team on his back doe, currently leading the team in average, hits, home runs, and runs driven in. He’s doing it with his glove too, making some great catches. They should just give him his Gold Glove now. Jones didn’t get off to a hot start last year, so it’s great to see him step up, be a leader, and make the plays to help this club win. It’s almost insane how no one talks about Jones being one of the best center fielders in the game. Check out these stats from MLBNetwork comparing him to Trout and McCutchen.
pic via PTisFLY
For my money, Jones is the best CF in the game. Every year he’s going to play 155+ games, hit over .280, have 25-30 bombs, drive in close to 100, make the All-star team, and win a Gold Glove. Are those things that would interest you?
McCutchen gets hurt too much, Trout has made some fantastic plays in the field, but isn’t that good of a fielder and has a weak arm. Jones does it all. Jones talks a big game, and follows it up with an even better performance on the field, not easy to do. With Nick Markakis gone, there is no doubt who the leader of this team is.
Upcoming Series
Four game series with the Red Sox coming up, should be a solid one. Got the marathon on Monday, always will be an emotional game. With that being said, I’m not impressed with any of the Red Sox pitchers, I expect this lineup to feast on these mediocre pitchers. Guys like Jones, Manny, Schoop, and hopefully Davis will eat these guys alive. Might have to win these games 9-8, but I think the O’s at least win two. Maybe steal a win and make it three of four and jump up to first.
O’s head up to Toronto after that series to play on that weird, shitty, new surface they got up there. Reyes is already hurt, I’m sure one their pitchers will also get hurt between now and then. O’s take 2 of 3 and keep rolling.
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